Even though transition-related medical procedures are medically necessary for many transgender and gender variant patients, they are often denied the care they need simply because of who they are. Today the American Psychiatric Association (APA) is calling for the elimination of barriers to access for transgender people.

According to the APA, the relentless discrimination transgender people face in virtually every aspect of life – from the workplace to adoption rights to public accommodations – makes it all the more important to ensure transgender individuals have access to high quality health care. In doing so, the APA joins other leading organizations like the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association in pushing back against the harmful rhetoric that can too often drive discrimination.

The move also reflects the growing momentum within both the business and medical communities to provide more affordable, higher-quality access to care. For example, HRC’s Corporate Equality Index now rates companies on whether or not their health insurance options cover transition-related care. The business community has responded: in the very first year this criterion was added, the number of companies offering fully inclusive health benefits jumped from 85 to 206, a 144 percent increase.

HRC’s Healthcare Equality Index highlights this need for access to culturally competent healthcare for transgender people as well. The HEI helps medical facilities ensure they have the knowledge, skills, and resources to care well for their LGBT patients and their families. It also offers patients access to important resources, like finding a LGBT-friendly healthcare provider or having conversations about gender identity or sexual orientation with a doctor.

Learn more from the APA on both access to care for transgender patients, and the discrimination they too often face.